At the time of preparing this report, US $1.42 makes a Euro. Here's what Valve seems to be pricing its games and those of its affiliates on the Steam platform as: $1 = €1, ignoring exchange rates, meaning that if a product costs say $20 on Steam, you will be charged €20 (approximately $27.86), if you are buying from the EU. Several game titles have been priced in this fashion. Call of Duty 4, priced at US $49.99 ($59.4 after applicable taxes) is tagged at €49,99 ($70 before applicable taxes).

In reaction to this, disgruntled European gamers have started protesting this move by Valve on online forums, an example of which can be found on Valve's own Steam Users' Forums. Also found on the same board is a user group named 1€ ≠ 1$. Certain groups have even started reporting this to the European Commission Consumer Cell. The gamers allege that they have been given a largely unfair pricing scheme with products on the Steam platform, that violates trade laws. The Steam platform serves gamers from around the world with a common platform to purchase games, and coordinates multiplayer gaming and updates. An unhappy consumer base from one of the largest markets in the world could certainly impact on its revenues.

This doesn't make any sense. I love Steam and I'm an American capitalist pig but this just seems like a bad business move. Especially from a company thats know to make good ones. Valve has always had a deep love for the players. I really wonder what the logic behind this is.

btarunr if you can please keep us up to date on this? I'm betting there is more to this than just greed on Valves part. Maybe some sort of new trade tax or something.

Well, i guess my question is how much are games normally in Europe? like are games for the PS3 and 360, 60 euros or are they less? If they are, then this pricing scheme makes sense to me, or, possibly all the money made in Europe stays in Europe ??

Oh really? So why do we have to pay VAT on top of the game's price? Double VAT eh?

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I'm not talking about the consumer. I'm talking about the taxes that a company has to pay. They aren't going to just pay the government and lose money, they are going to charge the people that live in this high tax bracket to offset their costs. Blame your government for their ridiculously high taxes. It helps no one.

I'm willing to bet this has something to do with European taxes. Erocker is right. Valve isn't going to take the hit for the government. Its going to pass it on to the people who voted for them. Its the same all over the world.

Now could one of you guys from across the pond tell me what you pay for an Xbox360 or PS3 game? In the U.S. we average 59.99 for a console game. If you pay the same but in Euros then I know EXACTLY what happened with Valve.

The thing is console games in the U.S. were an average of 49.99 for about 10 years. Then with this "Next-gen" came out they went up 10 bucks. To me it made no sense for such a huge jack in price. Sure maybe 2 or 3 bucks for inflation but not 10.

However if you guys in Europe pay 59.99 Euros and we pay 59.99 dollars then we both are getting screwed because the manufactures are playing "fair" with the consumer. Basically we both are paying more than what the game is "worth" so that the console makers are not playing favorites with a country by keeping the prices the "same". If any of you guys know marketing or have been involved with it you know exactly what's going on.

This is assuming you pay the same sticker price only in Euros. The difference with Valve is they don't care. They set thier games at one cost and pass any duties/taxes on to the customer. They seem like the bad guys doing this but they are really just being true to the customer. This is something I can respect but its HORRIBLE marketing.

Again I dont know what prices you guys pay but if you pay the same sticker than what I said I bet holds true.

I'm not talking about the consumer. I'm talking about the taxes that a company has to pay. They aren't going to just pay the government and lose money, they are going to charge the people that live in this high tax bracket to offset their costs. Blame your government for their ridiculously high taxes. It helps no one.

Now could one of you guys from across the pond tell me what you pay for an Xbox360 or PS3 game? In the U.S. we average 59.99 for a console game. If you pay the same but in Euros then I know EXACTLY what happened with Valve. Sure maybe 2 or 3 bucks for inflation but not 10.

This is assuming you pay the same sticker price only in Euros. The difference with Valve is they don't care. They set thier games at one cost and pass any duties/taxes on to the customer. They seem like the bad guys doing this but they are really just being true to the customer. This is something I can respect but its HORRIBLE marketing.

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Yeah, i'm still wondering about this also, and yes, i was going to say the 1=1 thing is a horrid way of putting it, if they left that out, i don't think there would have been such a big of fuss.